Morning Hiking Elopement in the Blue Ridge Mountains

This is one of those elopements that changed me. And not necessarily because of the wedding day or the photos we created, but because of Parker and Nic. They reached out with 4 months to plan their November elopement and sometimes you get a gut feeling and just know that you will totally connect with someone - I knew during our consult call. Both Parker and Nic were present for the call and were equally excited and interested with a clear focus on enjoying each other and having a very intentional wedding day. As we proceeded to plan and chat about their day I was so honored by how much they trusted me and how invested they were in the process. I would send them questionnaires which they put so much effort into completing and allowed me to get to know them better. When I was delayed on emails, Parker was incredibly patient and respected my time during busy season. And when we got to FaceTime again to work on their ceremony script Parker and Nic were present and open, letting us get to them, and genuinely interested in getting to know us.

All of this made the biggest impact for their day. They let me into their lives and relationship and continued to instill their trust and confidence in me. Come wedding day even though it was the first time we were meeting in person, we automatically felt comfortable with each other and could jump right into the day. It also meant that since they requested creative photos, I could trust my instinct when making choices for their photography and take the time to get creative and be vulnerable about my process so I could deliver the type of images they loved.

I do my best to fully commit to my couples and serve them as much as I can but my ability to do so increases ten fold when a couple is also fully committed to the process and experience I can offer. Getting to work with Parker and Nic was a dream because they were so invested. They didn’t just hire a photographer for photos, they hired someone to be a part of their day that would add to their experience. I’m so glad I got to support and serve them. Parker and Nic came from Tennessee to elope in the stunning Linville Gorge at sunrise. We met up in the early hours of the morning before the sun rose and hiked my absolute favorite trail that doesn’t get chosen too often due to its difficulty. With their family members close behind us, we made it to an epic view where the display of inverted clouds was breathtaking. Their parents helped them get changed and ready for their ceremony.

Jake got to officiate their elopement and Parker and Nic shared their own vows - and when I tell you Nic has a way with words, holy heck, did he have all of us tearing up during his beautiful vows to Parker. After we wrapped up their ceremony we headed further along the hike to enjoy the views and capture some epic photos on what was an incredibly warm November day, and I don’t think we stopped chatting the whole way. Parker and Nic immediately make it easy to be yourself around them and had such a fun and inviting presence. We were so grateful we had the time to hike and chat and enjoy each others company. Weeks later after delivering their images Nic wrote a google review for my business and once again almost had me in tears. Never have I felt so seen in my work before. Here is what he said:

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If the five star reviews before mine didn't grab you, I'm not sure what else I can offer. If you don't read this whole wall of text, just know: if you are looking to elope, or if you're uncertain about what you want or need from a photographer, just send Erika a message. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

Take a moment to look at the picture below this review.

A couple of things that might be readily apparent: there are two people, hopefully in love, who just got married on a mountain. Cool. The image is breathtaking. Composition, lighting, location, everything is aces. Awesome. That's all the things you can see, at least.

But what about the things you can't?

The two people behind this picture are Erika and Jake. I urge you to end your search for two more perfect companions for your elopement. You will not find them.

Erika deserves every accolade and five-star review she has received and more. Every second of every interaction from the time that my wife messaged Erika has been outstanding for several reasons.

First: Erika is a professional. An excellent communicator and a knowledgeable guide to everything you might need for your adventure. We never had to wait for correspondence, and we were never left in the dark about any single thing. Ever.

Second: Erika is an artist. Now, this point might feel obvious to most, but I cannot stress it enough. You need more than just someone who can take a decent picture. Any photographer can snap some pretty good shots with the right equipment. Any photographer can snap some passable shots with an iPhone. And that might be fine for most people. But I get the feeling that you're not looking for just any photographer. If you're like my wife and me, you want to look at the images of your wedding day and feel empowered. Beautiful. Radiant. Regal. You want to look at those pictures; you want other people to look at them and be rendered speechless. You want more than pictures to document your day. You want art. Well, Erika's got the eye. Not only does she have the eye, but she has the artistic prowess to get you looking like you're the ones getting paid to be there. She excels at quelling your anxiety and helping you get over your nerves. I encourage you to let her try different things with you. Be brave! Collaborate! Don't be afraid to break the mold of the typical wedding photo poses. If you want to try something, try it! Trust her to help you make your experience unique, and your images will reflect that.

Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth: Erika and her husband Jake are amazing people. You expect professionalism and competency. You might even expect artistry. But what I never expected was the genuine warmth, impeccable care, and truthful humanity exhibited by this wonderful pair of humans. My fiancée and I descended the mountain as husband and wife, with two newfound friends in tow. Erika and Jake will hype you up on your day, but it isn't artificial. They both actually care about you. They will laugh with you, cry with you, dap you up, give you affirmation and love, and it's all one hundred percent genuine. The way up the mountain was filled with laughter inducing, anxiety-crushing joy. Stories and jokes. Sweat and singing. It was like we were meeting up with friends we hadn't seen in a long time.

Special shout-out to my boy Jake for singing with me, making me feel at ease, swapping lame jokes with me, and gushing about shared experiences. Jake was the officiant for our wedding and he curated the ceremony script based on my wife's and my needs. He also served as Erika's second shooter, and all around support system. Grooms, take note: I didn't have a best man, but Jake felt like my best man that day.

Well, what more is there to say? If you have even had a passing thought about not having that traditional wedding, you owe it to yourself to explore an elopement. My wife and I are so happy that we chose to have the wedding we wanted to have, and we will never regret hiring Erika. You won't regret hiring her either.

Much love,

Nic and Parker

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